FCI Partners With Pasadena Water and Power To Implement SBDI Program

FCI is now working with Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) to implement its Small Business and Direct Install (SBDI) program. With PWP, FCI will identify customers that qualify for an assortment of measures such as LED lighting, Electronically Commutated Motors (ECM), Anti Sweat Controls, HVAC work, and water products. PWP is taking a comprehensive approach as it relates to serving their customers. FCI is excited to be a part of this new endeavor and we look forward to serving the city of Pasadena.

FCI Performs Massive Energy Assessment For Mattel Inc.!!!

FCI is excited to announce that we are performing an energy assessment for toy juggernaut, Mattel Inc. We will provide Mattel with recommended solutions that will assist them in reducing their energy load and carbon imprint, while simultaneously maintaining and/or enhancing the comfort ability, aesthetics, and safety of their facilities. We are providing Mattel with information that will help them decrease their utility bills and efficiently use their current lighting, HVAC, and water equipment. FCI is honored to be working with this globally recognized brand that is concerned about the environment. More updates soon!!!

FCI Rolling Up Our Sleeves for US Bank Project

FCI is excited to announce that we are working with US Bank to make many of their California branches more energy efficient. US Bank has been assertive with their efforts to "invest in environmentally beneficial business opportunities". So far, FCI has done energy assessments on approximately 120 branches throughout California. Lighting efficiency is the primary focus of the project; however HVAC, Water, and Demand Response opportunities are also under consideration.We are elated to be working with a company that is committed to reducing their impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions. To read more on US Bank's conservation activities, visit USbancorp.

FCI Looking To Make a Splash in the California Water Association

FCI was present at the California Water Association (CWA) business fair this past week that was held at the Santa Fe Springs Town Hall. The CWA held this event to promote and welcome contractors to the California Water Utilities' Supplier Diversity Program, which provides procurement opportunities for minority-, women-, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises. The CWA is a trade association of investor-owned water utilities providing high-quality water utility services to nearly 6 million people throughout California. FCI has been focusing heavily on its water conservation efforts over the past several months and the opportunities available from this program are a perfect fit for our services. We met several key people and companies who are instrumental in the success and management of the  California Water Utilities' Supplier Diversity Program. We look forward to developing these relationships and serving the CWA in its water conservation efforts.

What If You Could Buy Energy From Your Favorite Department Store?

As the economy is still trying nurse itself back to health, all types of businesses are looking for new revenue models not only to stay competitive, but to survive. A new phenomena is starting to catch fire in the energy world, starting in the UK. Marks and Spencer, a well known retail chain (similar to Macy's) has become an electricity seller. M&S Energy, which is the company's energy division has a website that almost rivals well established utility companies. M&S seems to be a fish in water as they use their marketing and customer service prowess to attract their already loyal customer base to their energy services. This idea is quite ground breaking and actually makes a lot of sense. Most customers who live in deregulated energy markets are unaware that other alternative energy providers even exists because these providers don't have the marketing dollars to penetrate established utilities' market shares. Companies like M&S are well positioned to take advantage of deregulation because of their large capital, marketing savvy, customer loyalty, and growing disdain/distrust of utility companies. We see hints of this business model forming in the US. Retail juggernauts such as Amazon.com and Costco sell solar roof panels.Who wouldn't want to buy energy from their favorite retailer anyway? Being able to pick up a brand new pair of Hugo Boss loafers and pay my energy bill in tandem sounds sort of appealing.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Wear Sunscreen (When in Pursuit of Solar Panels!)

I had a thought recently, something that may be a little absurd, but an idea I gave some attention to regardless: It is summertime in NYC. The sun is at its hottest and the UV rays are coming at us harder than ever (let's blame that on the hole in the ozone layer). While being tan is still the hottest thing since Coco Chanel, people are still lathering on the SPF 15 in attempts to thwart the most prevalent cancer in the United States. It struck me then that these people are all heading to spots where the solar potential is highest: the shore, the baseball fields, stadiums, and most importantly the urban community pools. All spots prolific in the smelly tannins of sunscreen and all spots that would be equally prolific as viable locations for solar installations.

And then I remembered the aesthetic pleasure that drives our society and how solar panels in any of those places could be shunned and exiled as an ugly invention of future that should be kept in the closet until we can come to our own moral terms with it because having solar panels produce renewable clean energy is so wrong, right?

Slightly disillusioned, I put away my beach PV blueprints and set to work on a more feasible urban green/social good project. And then, two weeks ago, an amazing tool was introduced- the NYC Solar Map, eliminating the need to follow beach-goers to sun heavy spots.

The NYC Solar Map is an online mechanism that calculates the solar potential for any building in the five boroughs for one of the best spots to capture the sun's energy- on your roof. Using the dimensions of the roof and some other factors, the solar map will give you an estimate on how large of a system you can install (in kilowatts), the cost of the system, rebates you can get for the installation, how much carbon dioxide you would be reducing, and the equivalent amount of trees planted. Now that's really putting solar on the map! In addition to presenting the solar potential, current installations and statistics can also be found on the map. The power of the sun is now in any NYC building owner's hands. With the ability to see your immediate ROI, there's really no argument against the solar synergy. Just make sure to wear sunscreen when hanging out with the panels on the roof!

Check out the NYC Solar Map at www.nycsolarmap.org. Type in FCI's NYC HQ address at 37-18 Northern Blvd to see how much solar energy we'd be generating if we didn't have an organic farm on our rooftop which is just as awesome.

Why Should You Do Business With FCI?

There are several energy consulting companies in the energy sector that are excellent at what they do. Yet, there are few that have as broad of a range of specialties as FCI. Most energy consulting companies have only one niche (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) therefore only assisting their clients in one area. FCI'S holistic approach allows us to serve the diversified needs of our clients, which also allows them drastically cut project costs when working with us (as oppose to several different contractors looking for their piece of the pie). So what does this mean to you?


Utilities/ Government Entities-FCI has a long history of working with uutility companies and providing them with solutions that allow them to achieve maximum results without micro management. Take a look at our affiliations/clients on our website. Over the course of the last 6-8 years, we have serviced over 70,000 small businesses through our utility relationships. We not only help out our utility clients with their small business customers, we also serve 200kW+ customers as well as power line infrastructure project management and agricultural retro-commissioning.

Commercial Clients- We are able to service your facilities in a more comprehensive manner. We not only can replace your old energy consuming lighting hardware with the newest state of the art equipment, we can also revamp you restrooms with advanced water conservation technology that will lead to better use of water resources for your company. FCI has experienced HVAC technicians that can give an overhaul to your current heating ventilation and air conditioning systems that will allow your building occupants to be more comfortable and make sure that the system is operating at maximum efficiency. We can help your business participate in load shifting during critical energy peak demand hours, which will help alleviate rolling blackouts as well as put extra revenue in your pocket.

Residential Clients-FCI is able to retrofit an entire home to make it more comfortable, economical, and safer. Many homes were built before there were enforced energy standards and they are wasting tons of energy and hard earned dollars. We can whip your home into shape and provide you with a nice utility rebate to offset the cost greatly. We also offer programs that do not cost our customer's anything.

FCI is a company that is committed to excellence, innovation, and most importantly customer solutions that will fill the particular need that you may have. We believe that we are a family and any client of ours (no matter how small ) is a part of our ever growing family. So give FCI a try!